Hohner 1896 Marine Band Harmonica  

I'm brand new to harp playing.  After research I chose this one in the key of C. I understand what other reviewers meant about cutting into your lip.   There is an edge on the marine band that does this, I don't see much of a way around it.  Other than that, it's a great sounding instrument. 

I still consider myself a beginner at the harmonica (though I do admit I can jam pretty damn well) I only own 3 harmonicas, including the marine.

I own a Hohner Blues harp, the pro harp (black one), and of course, the marine and I must say that the marine is by far my favorite. I do wish it wouldn't cut my lips as much...

Compared to those two, the marine has a richer sound. And it is louder, to my ears anyway.

do you, by any chance, sell musical talent?

I'm a begginer and I tried previously buying like a 10-pack of cheap harmonicas, and the sound of this one just blows away the cheap ones. You're much better off buying one of these harmonicas than buying 10 cheap ones.

There is no doubt--none whatsoever--that a Marine Band harmonica is one of the best sounding harmonicas in the world. The bluesy tone of the wood comb cant be beat. I certainly have a bunch of them. But dont let any new harp players on here be fooled. There are significant problems to playing a Marine Band. I also contend that quality control at the Hohner factory is poor. MB harps come out all different, you never know what you are going to get. As for problems, here are what I've experienced with Marine Bands:

  1) the wooden comb warps, that is the holes shift. Holes you play a lot tend to "move around." Your 4 hole will open up wider, thus "pinching" the 3 and 5, making them smaller and harder to play.

  2) the wooden comb swells out when it gets moist with the moisture of your lips. If you play and MB for even 30 or 40 minutes, the wooden comb will bulge out and rip your lips up while you play. I find the Special 20 much easier to play, and to solo on, than an MB. The plastic comb of the Special 20 wont warp or swell.

  3) the MB has those nasty metal rails along the top and bottom of the comb, again rendering it hard to solo.

   Some guys I know love Marine Band harps and would never give them up. Fine. Again, these are fantastic sounding harps, but with so many other choices on the market, I dont usually buy MBs any more. Special 20s are my favorite, Golden Melody's are terrific, and best of all, the Suzuki Manji